YOUNG BRITISH COMPOSERS

Evening Star, Issue 18809, 6 December 1924, Page 3

YOUNG BRITISH COMPOSERS

Mr W, J. Turner, writing on what the younger generation of composers is doing, says in the ‘Weekly Westminster’: I know of no young English composer whose compositions give mo tho vivid impression of genius—although there are a number of intelligent and capable musicians who have done good work and may yet do belter. Among the latter are one or two who not only show ability above tho ordinary', but who give me the impression that they may yet develop a great deal farther and quite surpass their present achievements. Of these 1 would name Mr Eugene Goossens, Lord Berners, and Mr Armstrong Gibbs. Mr Goossens comes, as so many famous musicians have come, from a musical stock. For years lie was a violinist in the Queen’s Hall Orchestra, but as a violinist bo showed no particular prowess. Sir Thomas Bcecliarn discovered Jiis natural talent for conducting. Mr Rutland Boughton, Mr Gustav Holst, and Dr Vaughan Williams belong to a slightly older generation. Of these, Dr Vaughan Williams is, 1 think, far the most giited. Ho is a genuine composer with a touch of real inspiration. Also, ho is, of all tho English composers I have mentioned, tho one whoso music has the most definite English character. On tho whole, tho outlook for English music is encouraging. There lias been a great advance in musical education in this country during the past titty years. Such admirable institutions as tho Queen’s Hall promenade concerts and tho Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra have done a great deal for tho young English composer, both directly by performing Jiis works, and indirectly by providing him with an appreciative audience. But I should like to sec tho young English composer taking a keener interest in providing music for the theatre and for dancing. Wo have no young English composer who can write light opera with the skill, invent! n, and polished musicianship of such a Viennese composer ns Leo Fall, whose ‘Madame Pompadour’ is now’ running in Loudon. 1 don't want English composers to write imitation \ iciineso opera or imitation American jazz, but I want some of them to write light music as good as tho Viennese and tho American, but in a style of their own. Tho educated musician must not think that his business is only to write symphonies and oratorios. Mozart wrote many waltzes for Viennese dance halls, and what Mozart did would not demean England s greatest composer.